Remember when?: Disney Restaurants

[CamoMama]

That sounds just like the Disneyland dining plan. I wish they'd move to the same system as WDW, it's easier to hand over the card rather than pull coupons from a book.

 

[theaslip]

this thread needs some pictures!!!!

Yes it does - starting with a picture of Mickey'sApprentice in the white dress!

 

[TheRealDrDisney]

I miss the Catwalk Bar over the Brown Derby. Quiet, cool, and out of the way place to get a cold adult beverage and watch the crowds pass by underneath at the Soundstage Restaurant...

 

[Princess Olivia]

Remember when you could walk into any restaurant and get a table in under 30 minutes?

Remember when Chef Mickey's was in Downtown Disney and it wasn't a buffet?

I remember before the DDP when Portobello Yacht Club and it's extensive Northern Italian menu was a must-do for us.

And I also remember when DH and I stayed at the Buena Vista Palace in 1991 and ate at The Outback. We ordered a decent bottle of red wine, appetizers, filet mignon and dessert. We got the bill and it was $80!! We had never spent such a huge sum of money for dinner before. Speaking of which, I still have the bill for our room at the GF for our honeymoon in 1990. It was $200 a night. I almost fainted!

Yes!! Portobello Yacht Club was always a must do. I don't even think about it anymore. Do they still serve the roasted garlic with rolls? After our honeymoon I would roast garlic once a week......yum!!

 

[Disney Fool]

Oh, my gosh! Food and Fun card!!! but even before that, there was the ....wait fori it....The Magic Kingdom Club card!!!! Remember that?

 

[butterfly71076]

I miss the Catwalk Bar over the Brown Derby. Quiet, cool, and out of the way place to get a cold adult beverage and watch the crowds pass by underneath at the Soundstage Restaurant...

We loved the Soundstage! That was where I met the Beast for the first time!

 

[BabsBunny]

Yes!! Portobello Yacht Club was always a must do. I don't even think about it anymore. Do they still serve the roasted garlic with rolls? After our honeymoon I would roast garlic once a week......yum!!

Haha! I totally forgot about the roasted garlic. We bought a garlic roaster, because we loved it so much. And being from Syracuse with lots of great Italian restaurants, PYC was always a little different.

 

[Tammy296]

...when the regular dining plan included appetizers, entrees, desserts, AND TIPS? Oh, how we were spoiled & didn't even know it.

DEFINITELY!!!!

Remember when: Tutto Italia served profiteroles.....Goofy Candy Co allowed you to get their dipped items (as many as you wanted) per snack credit....candy apples for a snack credit.... two snack credits per person per day....

*deep sigh*

Oh well... we've allowed it, kept going back....it hasn't stopped anyone yet....

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Yes it does - starting with a picture of Mickey'sApprentice in the white dress!

Well...it was actually a very pale light green dress. It was very dressy with small pearls sewn into the top half. The dress had a full see through skirt with pleats near the waist. The dress was pretty conservative. I had worn it to my Bridal Tea 3 weeks earlier.

 

[Joshua_me]

Little Oscar was an actual person who was the "ambassador" for Oscar Mayer when they sponsored the restaurant. He made the wonderful location even better!

http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/hsphouse.htm

^ Here's a link with pics describing the "Little Oscar" experience, and also the menu with it's amazing food and even more amazing LOW prices !

(This predates even MY days at the parks, but it must have been a wonderful place, and a wonderful man...)

 

[theaslip]

No one remembers the Heidelberg Deli????

I think I do. The place at Lake Buena Vista (now Downtown Disney)? My parents liked to go there often (and take us)....

 

[theaslip]

One recurring theme I have noticed in this thread is Disney's willingness to sacrifice quality and unique offerings (Akershus, CRT, etc.) on the altar of profit margins with Character meals. Bring in lots of people, throw a lot of cheap food around, and turn over the tables quick. All at a very hefty price. I can't imagine Walt's vision would have included tearing out the Smorgasbord at Akershus. I was at O'hana 2 weeks ago. They throw the food at you before you even sit down, and have you completely wrapped-up in 45 mins (in time for a 1-hour table turn). For a $200 bill.

 

[kisaacs]

OMG The Gold Key Card

I think i still have one LOL

I remember one time we took out boats with them. the CM says we only have an hour and 1/2 my dad says we have this....The CM responds we close at 7 PM have it back before that. I wish i could remember where that was. I wanna say it was where the Epcot resorts are now

That's what I remember too. I was about 7...I think it was 1986...whichever year had the monorail fire, as we were stuck at Epcot for that one. I remember that the waiters and waitresses would encourage us to order 2 entrees each as their tip was dependent on the food price, and was all included under the plan. We didn't pay for a thing and did everything imaginable. My parents saved for 4 years for that trip, and I have lots of amazing memories. I think I had "Mickey Mouses" at every dinner, and the Empress Lily was so fancy I couldn't believe it. Top of the Hub was my favorite place to eat...did it revolve, or am I mixing that up with some other restaurant?

I wish they had a similar thing today so you could just pay one price, go all out and call it a day. Though it would probably be so expensive we couldn't afford it, even if we saved for 4 years!

 

[perdidobay]

I miss...


...fried brie appy @ 50's Prime Time....soooo good!!

I miss this more than anything else.

 

[BabsBunny]

One recurring theme I have noticed in this thread is Disney's willingness to sacrifice quality and unique offerings (Akershus, CRT, etc.) on the altar of profit margins with Character meals. Bring in lots of people, throw a lot of cheap food around, and turn over the tables quick. All at a very hefty price. I can't imagine Walt's vision would have included tearing out the Smorgasbord at Akershus. I was at O'hana 2 weeks ago. They throw the food at you before you even sit down, and have you completely wrapped-up in 45 mins (in time for a 1-hour table turn). For a $200 bill.

I couldn't agree more. It irks me when I'm still working on my salad or appetizer and the entre' comes out. Or when you order a glass of wine early and it shows up half way through your dinner.

This is one of the reasons I'm glad we finally took the plunge and bought DVC. If we are down there for a long weekend, we'll usually do one signature restaurant, one standard restaurant (often it's Bongo's because they don't take reservations), and the third night we'll order pizza or get Earl of Sandwich to go and eat at our leisure in the villa.

 

[theaslip]

I thought of another old fav....Remember the Fireworks Factory at DTD?!? Great place for a fun, casual meal.......

 

[MASrules]

I thought of another old fav....Remember the Fireworks Factory at DTD?!? Great place for a fun, casual meal.......

I remember the Nestle Toll House Sunday. It was a big chocolate chip cookie (think 12" diameter) with melting ice cream and lit sparklers! great memory.

 

[punkin712]

I thought of another old fav....Remember the Fireworks Factory at DTD?!? Great place for a fun, casual meal.......

I definitely remember Fireworks Factory...but not for the food When I was in the College Program, that was a favorite Thursday night hangout. I knocked back more than my share of "Summer Sparklers". That's also where I met Davy Jones! Ah...memories

 

[sexyravenfan]

I remember my very first character breakfast in 1990 as a little girl on the Empress Lilly at DTD. Good times

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Oh, my gosh! Food and Fun card!!! but even before that, there was the ....wait fori it....The Magic Kingdom Club card!!!! Remember that?

OMGosh we had a Magic Kingdom Club card!!! We got it thru a Credit Union!! I don't remember what we got with it..a discount I know but it was sooo cool!

On the Original Chef Mickey's... It was awesome to take DD on her first trip when she was only 2 1/2 and here was a choo choo train nearby too! Ah the memories and we are looking forward to the next trip!